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Eight-timeAcademy Awardnominee Glenn Close’s latest project,The Summer Book, had its US premiere at the AFI Film Festival. Robert Jones adapted the film based on Tove Jansson’s 1972 novel of the same name. Charlie McDowell directed the film that explores the process of grief and finding life after the loss of a loved one.
The Summer BookMovie Review
The Summer Bookfollows the story of a young girl named Sofia, who spends the summer with her grandmother on a small, uninhabited island. I love the idea and concept of exploring grief in a fresh and unique way. McDowell brought the script to life and showcased a raw and authentic look at grief through the eyes of two different generations of people.
Although McDowell captures the relationship well, the rest ofThe Summer Bookis quite exhausting. Slow-burn movies aren’t for everyone, but when done right, they can be a smooth ride. Unfortunately, no matter how great the exploration of this uncanny relationship was, it was a chore to get through this movie.
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From what I’ve gathered in the context of researching the book (I haven’t read it), the idea is that the grandmother and granddaughter are out on this venture to explore life after the death of their daughter/mother but isn’t brought up. That’s where I feel like much of the depth of the film lacks because the conversations about her don’t exist. How can you expect me to invest in exploring the grief of someone that our characters aren’t exactly doing? You can’t, and it was infuriating.
McDowell’s attempt to use the scenic background of the Gulf of Finland as its own character fails miserably. We’ve seen many films utilize natural features like cities, oceans, or mountains to their advantage to elevate the story, but the atmosphere felt as lifeless as the film. He should’ve used a more lively backdrop to carry the movie’s darker tone.
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Glenn Close is a great actress, and we know she has been nominated for eight Academy Awards. That said, she tries her best here to bring this lifeless script to life. The highlight of this film was Close working with Emily Matthews, who played Sophia. These two shared a dynamic relationship that felt authentic. Matthews’s ability to impress standing toe-to-toe with an Academy Award nominee her age is remarkable.
I was incredibly shocked that this movie was only 98 minutes long. Some elements of the editing by Jussi Rautaniemi impressed me, but at the same time, this movie felt longer thanDune: Part Two. The only element that is worthy of recognition is the score by composer Hania Rani. The film is accompanied by a dark atmosphere that explores the grief of losing a loved one, and in those silent moments, his score elevates sincerity and somberness. I just wish the script made me feel something in these moments because Rani’s score is brilliant.
IsThe Summer Bookworth watching?
Tove Jansson’sThe Summer Bookshould never have been adapted into a feature film. While the book might have hit a home run with readers, the movie is underwhelming and bland. I was rather excited about the prospects of the film because I loved Charlie McDowell’sNetflix movieWindfall,but this was a huge disappointment. I can’t even slightly recommend this movie unless you are the biggest Glenn Close fan and never miss one of her films.
The Summer Book screened at the 2024 edition of AFI Fest, which runs October 23-27 in Los Angeles, CA. It will be released in theaters on July 24, 2025.
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Richard Valero
Articles Published :103
Ricky Valero is based in Nashvile, TN. He has a huge passion for film and tv. He is a proud member of the Critics Choice Association . While not watching movies, he has a huge love for crappy reality dating shows.
